The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has proposed constitutional guarantees for the funding of state police services, insisting that financial autonomy must be entrenched to prevent the proposed security structure from being controlled or hijacked by political actors and other influential groups.
Bamidele, who is also Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said the funding of state police must become a first-line charge in the Constitution as part of measures to ensure independence, accountability and effective service delivery.
He made the position known in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs while responding to concerns surrounding the proposed amendment to allow states establish their own police services.
The Senate leader acknowledged that concerns raised by Nigerians and stakeholders over possible abuse of state police were legitimate, noting that such fears were linked to experiences from the First Republic when regional governments operated their own police forces.
He said the National Assembly was working on a comprehensive framework of safeguards to address these concerns, including measures to guarantee personnel discipline, institutional independence and financial stability.
According to him, state police commissioners and the proposed State Police Service Commissions must have access to guaranteed funding that would not depend entirely on the discretion of state governors.
“The funding of state police services should be clearly provided for in the 1999 Constitution in the same manner that the judiciary enjoys financial autonomy as a first-line charge,” Bamidele said.
He explained that the arrangement would prevent a situation where a governor could withhold funds from a state police service because its leadership disagreed with certain directives or decisions.
Bamidele argued that a state police system without guaranteed funding could become ineffective and vulnerable to external influence.
He warned that the threat of abuse goes beyond politicians, noting that wealthy individuals, business interests, criminal networks and other organised groups could also manipulate poorly funded state police formations.
“Those who express concerns often talk only about political abuse, but the issue goes beyond that. If a state police service is not properly funded, business interests, cabals and even criminals can exploit it. He who pays the piper dictates the tune,” he said.
The Senate leader assured Nigerians that the National Assembly would create a state police framework that prioritises accountability, professionalism and protection of citizens’ rights.
He explained that the constitutional amendment seeks to move policing powers from the Exclusive Legislative List, where they currently reside with the Federal Government, to the Concurrent Legislative List, allowing both federal and state authorities to establish police services.
Bamidele added that lawmakers would continue consultations with stakeholders to ensure that all concerns are addressed before the amendment process is concluded.